Bearing



Oct. 17, 1933. ALSAKER 1,931,218

BEARING Filed April 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. ALSAKER Oct. 17, 1933.

BEARING Filed April so, 19:50

2 Sheets-Shem. 2

PatentedOctJ17, I I ,7 I I I I oNiTEDT S TES 'P TE I fQ EICE BEARING Alfred Alsaker, Chicago, Ill assignor to The Delta-Star Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois [Application April 30, 1930. 7 Serial No. 448,511

7Claims. (areas-1139) l f This invention relates in general to electrical lindrical surfaces of the moving part and its sta-' mechanism, and ,more; particularlyto rotary tionary bearing partfthat if moisture or corro-j switches, the invention being particularly consion become lodged in the same the two parts will cerned with the construction of the bearing for be so firmly frozen together that the switch can- 7 V the rotary insulator of disconnect switches. not be opened This, of course, is fatal to switch'-60' A disconnect switch normally-is opened only operation. I a e i when a piece of apparatus ora line is taken out I havesolved the difficulty by the provision of a; of service. Hence it may stand in its closed posiball bearing support for the insulator. I wish to tioh for a relatively long period of time. In recall attention to the fact that I employ the ball cent times ther e has been a rapid increase in bearing not so much in' its capacity to stand 65 transmission voltages and as a result thereof the high speeds and continuous operation with low insulation and striking distance dimensions have friction as I do to Pr vide a relatively c r t been compelledfto keep pace therewith. Obalign d bearing w tIbCQ I h Q 0 viously,'the' greater the lengthofjtheinsulator roded test. If the 'bearing'does corrodecrfill a a 7 and the blade, the greater is the necessity for acwith sleet, the balls will cut their way through 70 curacy in'the fit of the moving parts. This is the'same.

particularly'true of the bearing for-the rotary This is because the bearing is substantially insulator in a rotary switch, since any'play or f ree-of any capillary recesses, in which moisture locseness in such bearing would result in failure could be drawnin'and frozen'or in which f corof the blade to keep its alignment with the switch rosion could look the parts together. Theballs 75 contacts. Y which are employed in the bearing havesubstan-a .Another element to be taken into consideration tially only point contact with their cooperating? connection with {outdoor switches is sleet, i. e., surfaces, and furthermore they present a leverage f r ice "frozen upon'the switch. It is evident that .toibrea'lr' away any'f lm of moistureor'corro sion the larger the switch blade, the greater is the which may freeze the parts together. This em-98Qf resisuance offered to-openingof the blade when ployment' of ball bearingsftoeliminate freezing covered with sleet. Similarly, the resistance to due either to ice or corrosion, isfundamentally] closing is increased "by the length of the blade. new in the art. j

Inorder to provide a switch operable in all In theimanufacture ofmybearingl do not 3 kinds oi-weather'and at -any time without fail, harden and grind the races for the balls'as the 85 variousforms of the. so called opening moveservice'iwhich is required of 'theflbearin g 15' of mentjhave been devised. Inig'eneral these forms such a characterthat a fine; surface "would be comprise a mechanism for exerting a push or pull wasted. I l depend primarily upon the balls to upon the switch blade during the initial rotation deform the races to such anextent as to furnish of the rotary insulator stack. Such movementsthe finish or fltdesirable or necessary 'between90 generally provide a change of direction of movethe balls and the races. 'A lso;'i f any corrosion lor ment of the switch blade by a mechanism capable 1 freezing does cccur, the balls can'c'ut theirpway', of exerting great force upon the blade to break through and, in extreme cases stretchor strain'f it loose from the contact when it is held by sleet the metal. of the races without cracking of the 40 or corrosion, or merely the friction of the grip balls. j e e of the stationary contact. .My bearing comprises an outer-barrel or shell In rotary, switches employing the above type member into which extends a spindle member; of movement, the rotary insulator is put under The-shell is provided with'ajflange for mounting considerablestressj The bearing will; in operathe same and thespindle is providedwith a, rela-j tion, tend to become loosened. Attempts have tively flat head adapted to receiv'e an insulator .100

heretofore been madeto obviate'the above diilii-- pin or the like; which is rigidly *secured thereto cultyby the use of a relatively large close fitting and which has an insulator secured'to its-oppobearing. This bearing, however, does not solve site end in the =usualjmannen' Boththe shell, the problem because corrosion and sleet will and the spindle are formed of cast iron although 0 freeze such a bearing so tight that it cannot be other metals may be usedif desirable. Tl' e1-cast' operated or moved. 1 metal is necessarily relatively soft and afiordsa l 1 A plain cylindrical hearing which hasa suffirelatively coarse finish. On large and on mediumciently tight fitto give the desired guiding action sizev switches the weight of the moving mass is to a long blade or the like; of necessity presents quite 'considerable and I have-"foundthat' soft-f 5 such an extensive capillary area between the'cy-* metal'castings are not quite satisfactory means is provided for preventing too great a give of the metal at the races. To overcome this difliculty I provide at least one of the race surfaces with a comparatively hard metal disc which comprises a race, said disc being backed up by the casting. In the very large sizes of switches 'or in switches of intermediate sizes wherein the rotating insulator is mounted in a cantilever position I prefer to provide all of the races with .hard metal discs which will constitute hard metal races backed up by the softer casting material. I have found by-actual test that the. balls that are placed between the races wear into the races somewhat, but'this action soon reaches equilib- 7 of vmalleable iron or bronze.'

- scription proceeds.

rium due to the hardening action 'of the rollingcontact. In' order. to prevent the entrance of moisture between the bearing surfaces I provide thespindle with an overhanging eave adjacent the upper bearing. This eave is a part of the hard metal whichconstitutes a water shed for preventing the entrance of water, sleet,'or the like into the.

bearing. e

Otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear from the fol-' lowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate two preferred embodiments'thereof.

In the drawings: 7 4 e g Figure l is a side View inpartial section show- ;ing my, improved insulator supporting means;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 and showing a somewhat modified form of in- ;sulatorsuppo'rting bearing; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken' along the .line 4-,. 4 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction ofithe arrows.

Reference may 'nowbe' hadmore particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. These figures show a bearing adapted .to support the rotary insulator of a'hig'h voltage disconnect switch. An

insulator unit of a standard construction is adapted to. be mounted upon the rotary member of the ;bearing. I have shown the end portion of an insulator pin 10 which is secured to the insulator in amanner wellknown in the art.

which is adapted to seat on top of a hollow cast metal supporting element or. spindle 13. The spindle member 13 is preferably a hollow casting 7 At the junction of the head at thefspindle' there is located a bearing 14which will be more fully'descrlb'ed as thede- The spindle member 13 I is hollow and a bolt 16 extends through the bore 15 thereof.- The bolt 16 is threaded at its upper. end

as indicated at 17 and is threaded into a drilled I Aplurality of holes are formed in the face 12 of the insulator pin 10, said holes regis- 'tering with correspondingly spaced holes in. the top of the head of the spindle 13-. Dowel pins 20 fit into theholes and extendbetween the insulator pinv and .the spindle 13 thereby preventing relative rotationbetweenthose two parts. These pins also serve to align the insulator pin with the The lower end of the insulator 'pin'10 has a flat surface 12' spindle so as to obtain a proper alignment of the switch blade, which is mounted on top ofthe insulator, with respect to the spindle member.

The bolt 16 in connection with the-plate 19 serves barrel having an upper conical bearing base which constitutes a ball race and which is 10-, cated immediately below the race 14. The barrel or shell member 25 is provided with laterally.

projecting flanges 2626 which are adapted to .rest on the top of a fixed support 27. The support 27 may comprise any suitable channel shaped member or may be of any other preferred shape. The support 27 has a central aperture 28 therein and through which the body of the supporting shell or barrel 25 extends. The annular flanges 26 may be fastene'd'to the top of the channel support 27. by any suitable means,

such, for example, as bolts and nuts 30. I

In addition to the annular radial shoulder 14 the spindle 13 is provided with an axial load bearingsurface 35'. A stainless steel disk or washer 36 lies aga nst the radial bearing surface 14. This disk or washer may be approximately one-eighthof an inch thick although it is to be understood that I am not limited to this dimension. The disk '36 extends beyond the body of the spindle 13 and is provided with a downwardly divergent portion 37 which overhangs the top portion 38 of the barrel or shell 25 and acts as a water shed for preventing the entrance of moisture or the like into the space between the shell 25 and the spindle 13. It is-to be noted that; the portion 37 of the washer is spaced from the shell 25 by a considerable amount. The bearing is thus free of capillary spaces at this point, thereby avoiding any possibility of the parts becoming frozen or corroded together due to moisture creeping up the barrel member bycapillary actween the washer 36 and the upper conical race 35' of the barrel member. It may thus b e-seen that the washer 36 constitutes ajhard' metal ball race and that the balls 40 ride between thefconical race 35, the axial race surface, 35, and the race 36. I r a Adjacent itslower end the spindleis provided with an axial load surface which cooperates 7 tion. Stainless steel balls 40 are interposed be- I with a conical race 46 formed at the lower end. i

of thelbarrel or shell member 25. The spindle is threaded externally'adjacent its lower end as ind cated at 47 and a castellated nut 49' is threaded thereon. A stainless steel ring orwasher 51 of an inner. diameter sufficient to clear the threads 47, rests upon the nut 49 and constitutes a lower race for the bearing. Stainless steel balls 52 are interposedb etween the race 46' and the race '51. The nut 49 is then drawn up withthe required degree of tightness thereby adjusting the spindle within the'barrel member. The nut is then secured against becominglooseby means of a pin or thelike indicated at 55 which passes through one of the notches 56 i n'the castellated nuts through a hole. provided for that purpose in the spindle member e I The conical race surfaces 35 and 46 of the barrel 25 as well asthe axialrace surfaces Y35' and 45 of the spindle are preferably machined to remove the rough surfaces present in thecasting. .The extent of this machining is however very slight so that these races dofnot present machine finished surfaces to the balls.- These condition the position of the ,bearingshown in surfaces are relatively soft, i and I depend pri marily upon the balls to finish or fitthe surfacesr As previously stated, the ballswear into the races somewhat and soon reach anequilibrium depth.

- which a clamp 64 may be attached for turning the.

spindleand thereby actuating the switch conv trolled by the insulator pin 10.: .This clamp may be of any approved construction although 1pm? fer to use a clamp of 'the type shown..in the pending application of myself and Elias G. LCor-. neliussen, Serial No. 378,337, filed Julyj15, 1929. The clamping face '63 is, of a polygonal shape} preferably octagonal, although any other num-: ber of sides may be providedif desired; The 5 flanges and 61 prevent displacement of the clamp along the spindle. The spindle is provided with a similar octagonal clamping surface 66 adjacent its lower end for receiving a clamp v similar, to the clamp that is mounted :at the other end. of the spindle. This bottom portion of thespindle is likewise providedwith flanges 6'7. and,

68 for preventing the d splacement of the lower clamp. It frequently happens that switches aremounted in an under-hung position. Under such Figure 1 would be inverted; When the switch ismounted in this position-I reverse the locations of the washers 36 and 51. The washer 36-;will now provide an overhanging eave at, 37 for the portion '70 of the barrel 25, which portion is'now in most cases and grease cups are thereforenot provided. Both the barrel or shell member 25 and the spindle member 13 are hot galvanized I after machining so that rusting of the machined surfaces is prevented.

On heavier types of switches, or on switches that are mounted so that the bearing member extends horizontally or at an angle to the vertical whereby cantilever stresses are present I prefer to provide hard metal races on the barrel or shell member as well as on the spindle member. Such a bearing is shown in Figures 3 and 4;. r Inthis form of bearing there is shown an insulator pinof the type provided with a base flange 12 that is provided with a number of spaced holes for receiving bolts and nuts '75 for mounting the same. The head of the spindle 13 is therefore provided with a similar flange '76 having similarly spaced holes for receiving the shanks of the bolts whereby the insulator pin may be rigidly bolted to the spindle. This bearing is substantially identical to the bearing previously de scribed, differing therefrom mainly in that I have here provided the conical race'surfaces of the barrel or shell member 25 with stainless steel conical races '78 and '79. These races may be approximately one-eighth of an inch thick although I do not wish to be limited to this dimension. The upper race 36' of the shell is provided with an axial bearing surface as well as .with the radial bearing surface and in a like manner the race orwasher *th'at is'carried:by the nut 49 is provided with anaxial bearing'sura.

faceas well as with aradial bearing surface. If

the switch supported by the bearing shown in I Figures 3 and 41s to be mounted inan un'der-' hung position then the. washers 36' are interchanged.-'- a 'or races 85 and- In this, construction theibarrelor shell member. 25-is provided with a substantially squareflange 26flwhichis providedwith four bolt holes and which rests upon the webof the 'channel j supporting'frame 27. It is ofcourse to lie-understood that any other form of flange may-be: used and that the same may bemounted other than upona channelframaq In'other' respects this' bearing member isidentic'al. to the'bearing shown in Figures .1 and 2 and. a further. description thereof at this timeiis not :deemed to be necessary to a full understandin'g:of the invention.

It might,sufficezto.state, .for the-present, that,

thefconical races 378 and '79'of Figure 3 may be provided for a bearing of thetype shown in Fig-'- ure 1, or that the bearing of Figure "3 maybe arranged to receive an insulator pin of the typeinvention hard;

metal diskraces niayyor may not be, -used -for the conical surfaces but they.will b e used'on theflat surfaces in all cases. Theballs used are of stainless steel and are agooddeal harder than are; the racess; Should the. balls become corroded to the races theycan break their :way through:

the corrosion even. .to the extent of" deforming the, races if necessary. -If the balls shouldencounter obstruction from scale, ice-or'other causes the pressure of the ball against the race would, still be great enough to'deformthe'hardenedraces and ifsnece'ssary toldeform. the soft metal back .of the races rather than crack the balls.

In compliance,

with the requirement' of =the' Patent statutesI have" herein 'shownfand de scribed a preferred form of my invention. It is however, tobe understood that the invention is not limited-to the precise construction shown herein, the same being merely illustrative of the"; invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A non-freezing bearing adaptedjto'stand stantially vertically extending hollow spindle '5 having anenla rged head portion integral therewith atone end, a thin metalball race adjacent the junction of said head and spindle, said ball race having a portion extending outside of,

the spindle and'constituting a watershed for,

preventing the entrance of moisture into the bearing, and a supporting barrel having a coing an overhanging eave' providing a water shedforpreventing the entrance of moisture into the bearing member, a barrel having a cooper- I atingj ball-race disposed under said water shed,

balls in said races, said spindle having a formation'to provide an attachment for a split clamp,

125. "i f exposed tofthe weather and comprising a sub-f ball races, and balls in said races.

and means at said formation to prevent displacement of the split clamp. 1

3. Incombination, a channel having an aperture through its web, a cast metal barrel member mounted in said aperture and having a clamping flange formed integrally therewith and lying against the Weber the channel, a cast metal spindle having ball races at each end, the upper ball race comprising athin metal washer. extending beyond the body of the spindle and having a short. divergent flange forming an'eave overhanging the upper ball race, saidbarrel having cooperating 4. A vertical non-freezing bearing comprising a. relatively short vertically extending open ended hollow shell having ball races formed thereon at its upper and lower ends, means for mounting the shell on a stationary supporting structure, a cast metal spindle extending vertically into the shell having an enlarged head with a flat clampingv surface at the top, a ball race comprisinga relatively thin .hard metal washer secured to said spindle and extending beyond the same to form a divergent eave portion, said ball race overlying the upper, ball race of the shell, balls between said two last mentioned races, an adjustable nutfor the lower end of the spindle, and airelatively thin hard metal disk constituting a ball race and mov- 5. A non-freezing infrequentlyope-rated bearing adapted to be mounted outdoors and exposed to weather, said bearing comprising a castmetal prising a'disc which extends beyond the barrel member and constitutes a water shed for prevent- ;ing the entrance ofzmoisture into the barrel, said facing being of a thinness to permit adefcrmation of its cast metalbackingbefore the cracking having a portion extending outwardly from the tween the cooperating races.

directly upon said headfdowel pins between post of the balls takes place in the event of an at-' tempted operation While the balls are frozen to the facing metal. A l

:6. A non-freezing infrequently operated rocking-bearing adapted to be'mounted outdoors and exposed to weather, said bearing comprising a cast metal spindle'and a vertically extending outer. cast metal barrel into which the spindle extends and in whichthe spindle is journaled, there being considerable spacing between the barrel and the spindle to prevent those parts becoming corroded togetherysaid barrel member having relatively soft. races formed integrally therewith, said spindle member having a ball race formed at one end thereof and having anadjustable ball race threaded'onto 'the other end, said two last mentioned races cooperating with the'races on the barrel and'the upper one of the two last mentioned races comprising a thin'hard metal disk spindle and forming an overhanging eavefor the upper race. of the barrel to prevent entrance of moisture into the space-between the spindle and the barrel, and relativelyhard metal balls be- 7. In combination, a hollow castimetal spindle having an integral enlarged head portion at itsupper end, said head portion being flat 'on the top, an insulator post flat on the bottom seated and head,-a bolt passing through the hollow spindie and secured to the bottom of the post, said I spindle having a race at the junction of the'head and the shank of the spindle, said race having a radial load surface and an axial load surface and, comprising a thin hard metal'disk, a barrel having an integral upper conical race and a lower race, jsaid spindle extending within the. barrel, hard metal balls between the upper barrel race and the raceon the spindle, a race nut adjustable'on the spindle towards and away from the lower race of the barrel, hard metal balls between said,"

lastmentioned race and the lower race of the barrel, the spindle-having clamping portions at each end to which operating connections may be made to and from the spindle.

ALFRED ALSAKERi 

